Howard Bows to Beijing

By

Lincoln Wright

Updated May 24, 2002 12:01 a.m. ET

Fresh from independence celebrations in Dili, Australia's Prime Minister John Howard toured China this week, and the contrast between the two visits couldn't have been starker. Australia contributed blood and treasure to help East Timor break free of repression, but in Beijing human rights took a back seat to lobbying for a $13.9 billion liquefied natural gas contract.

Mr. Howard concluded his trip with a meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin yesterday, at which he conveyed a clear message: Business ties come first in...